With “Christ 0“ Vanden Plas connect with their great epic “Beyond Daylight“ from 2002. Frontman Andy Kuntz & Co. prove themselves to be more hymnic, more courageous, and more mature than ever. After
... With “Christ 0“ Vanden Plas connect with their great epic “Beyond Daylight“ from 2002. Frontman Andy Kuntz & Co. prove themselves to be more hymnic, more courageous, and more mature than ever. After enjoying their ten new songs you can only come to one conclusion: Germany’s best and most important prog metal band has reached its temporary creative peak
After a break which in fact wasn’t a break, and which also gave the musicians important new inspirations, Vanden Plas are presenting their new album with “Christ 0“ which reflects many experiences of the past four years. After the great “Beyond Daylight“ (2002), singer Andy Kuntz’ solo album “Abydos“ (2004) and many theater engagements of the five musicians – regarding to, for instance, the “Nostradamus“ performances at Kaiserslautern and Hof where the whole group was involved – “Christ 0“ shows a distinctively matured band which is working more courageously and more variedly than ever before. “Of course, ‘Christ 0‘ is influenced by our theater work“, Andy Kuntz likes to admit. “When hearing the new songs you are sensing that we often worked with big orchestras.“ Guitarist Stephan Lill, apart from Kuntz and keyboardist G�nter Werno one of the three main songwriters in Vanden Plas, adds: “We had the courage to do more things. The down tuned guitars are more present, the ballads more touching, the orchestral arrangements more thorough, and the compositions more vivid.“
The new songs offer a spectacular feat reaching out to the entire universe of contemporary prog metal. Already the title track is typical for “Christ 0“: “The opener immediately shows you what you may have to expect from the rest of the songs of this album,“ Lill explains. “Hard guitars, polished arrangements, orchestral parts, and catchy melodies, trademarks of Vanden Plas which show no stagnation here but moreover a consistent progress of our typical sound.“ To this category also belongs “Wish You Were Here“, and the cleverly orchestrated “January Sun“. And on “Christ 0“ the 40-piece classical choir of the Pfalztheater in Kaiserslautern plays a not insignificant role.
But there is also – how may one put it? – the new side of Vanden Plas. So violent, dynamic, and heavy the musicians have rarely before presented themselves as in “Somewhere Alone in the Dark“ or “Postcard to God“. Modern guitar riffing, plus drum parts with a great punch and virtuoso soli turn both songs into gripping metal tunes which distinguishes Vanden Plas as a modern formation. In direct contrast there is the deeply moving number “Fireroses Dance“ with its emotional intro and Middle Eastern touch. And the wonderfully melancholic ballad “Lost In Silence“ again reminds of the 1997 acoustic album “AcCult“ and documents Andy Kuntz’ fantastic vocal performance on “Christ 0“ in a very special way.
Important to notice is -- apart from the straight rock track “Shadow I Am“ (Lill: “This number would have also found its place on ‘The God Thing’ or ‘Far Off Grace.’“) -- the composition “Silently“, which Vanden Plas calls an “artistic song“ and which, at the beginning, captivates the listener because of its tender and fragile seeming chorus developing into a mighty up-beat chorus. “Christ 0“ ends with “Gethsemane“ from the musical “Jesus Christ Superstar“, composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber and inimitably interpreted here. How much fitting for an album based on the story of the count of Monte Christo that however received a new contemporary symbolism and deals with the phenomena of schizophrenia – thanks to the personal treatment by Andy Kuntz. When you imagine a mixture of the movie classics “Angel Heart“ and “Silence of the Lambs“ put to music you will get the idea on which adventurous journey Vanden Plas is taking its audience on “Christ 0“.
Vanden Plas have produced the album in cooperation with sound engineer Markus Teske (Saga, Spock´s Beard, Symphony X). The cover artwork is based on an idea by Andy Kuntz; it perfectly symbolises the thrilling psychological pattern of the “Christ 0“ song lyrics. Apropos Andy Kuntz: on February 25th, a day after the “Christ 0“ release, Kuntz’ musical “Abydos“ premieres at the Pfalztheater in Kaiserlslautern; starring Kuntz it will be staged there for thirteen performances. Read more
